PLANESAIL yacht

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

PLANESAIL yacht

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:38 pm

John Walker, an aircraft designer working on Concorde, designed and built PLANESAIL, at Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, UK.
She was a no expense spared build using modern aircraft construction techniques, using the latest high tech materials like epoxy laminates, Nomex, Airex foam, carbon and glass, and cost several million.
1990 PLANESAIL was delivered.
Length 57 ft., weight 16 tons.
Two auxiliary diesel engines each 36 hp
PLANESAIL was later also called BLUE NOVA and INVENTURE.
1991
PLANESAIL made history as the first Wingsail yacht to cross the Atlantic. Though heavily landen for her transatlantic voyage, she achieved speeds of 18 knots.
She also encountered hurricanes Claudette & Andrew.
John Walker reported:
The wind had gone “off the clock” at 50 knots by midnight and stayed there for several hours as the noise of the wind continued to increase. We can only estimate that it reached perhaps 60-70 knots. Plenty, anyway. From later analysis of information from our GPS, log and the Hurricane Centre in Coral Gables, Florida, it seemed that we had passed around 60 miles from the core of Madame Claudette, and if we hadn't been able to gybe Blue Nova round we should have gone straight on into her centre.
and
Sailing Blue Nova up towards Manhattan Island past the Statue of Liberty was a great moment for us all, and TV film shot from a circling helicopter made it straight on to the evening news. A charming Customs man didn't even bother to look at our passports, let alone search the ship. He cheerfully made out our Cruising Permit and wished us a happy stay in the US.
1995 - Cowes Week
The Duke of Edinburgh spent 4 hours on board with only his personal bodyguard, the designer John Walker, and a photographer.
1997
28 February: The Next Challenge Ltd, set up by Trevor Jones in 1995, purchases PLANESAIL from Walker Wingsail plc.
PLANESAIL was customized by Simon Rogers for a circumnavigation by wheelchair bound quadriplegic, Trevor Jones.
Trevor intended to be the first quadriplegic to sail around the world.
Trevor was the Navy pilot who plucked Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson to safety after his transatlantic balloon crashed into the Irish Sea in 1987.14 October: Trevor throws the orange gauntlet at Richard Branson's feet at 10 yr rescue reunion on HMS Endurance, challenging him, wagering that Trevor would be the first to make it around the world in a customized yacht, before Branson made it around the world in a balloon.
1998
11 December: Trevor sails PLANESAIL, renamed INVENTURE, to London, were she was unveiled with the help of the Duke of York.
2001 - New Daggerboard
Nigel Irens locates a suitable new daggerboard to replace the centerboard of Planessail, for improved windward performance. It is from the French racing trimaran Primagaz.
The daggerboard is purchased for £8,000 and Simon Rogers designs the new slot for it using carbon fibre.
2001 - Around Britain
As a preparation for his circumnavigation, Trevor does the Around Britain Challenge starting the challenge on 8 August, and completing it on 19 November.
His circumnavigation attempt had to be cancelled because of poor health.

2002
Inventure Trust charity launched in London, with corporate sponsors on board. PLANESAIL as INVENTURE was certified by Mecal to operate as a sailing vessel for disabled passengers.
2004
PLANESAIL lost her Wingsail rig. The Inventure Trust continued to operate her as a Mecal certified charter motor vessel for disabled passengers.
2006
PLANESAIL purchased by current owner, who conducted an extensive refit to prepare her for long distance cruising.
2011
PLANESAIL cruised from Plymouth to the Algarve, via the Americas Cup at Cascais. The trip went smoothly, without incident.

2017 Can’t find anything on her on the net.

Downloaded from: http://PLANESAIL.com/history/index.html
Gambia 2000 D8 sg?, scott?
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planesail yacht.jpg
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